Responding to the call made by a 97-member group led by comedian and media personality Errol Fabien, the public, corporate T&T and local and regional soca artistes and deejays showed just how big a heart T&T has on Sunday at the One Caribbean Relief Concert at the Queen's Park oval, Port-of-Spain.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Fabien said the event, originally planned to assist Bermuda after the passage of Hurricane Irma but extended to other islands after Hurricane Maria, received solid support.

“In terms of the gates last night, we saw 800 paying patrons and a further 50 people making cash donations at the gate. We are still doing the accounting to reconcile it,” said Fabien, who was at the venue helping with packing of items to be sent to the various Caricom states affected by the recent hurricanes.

During his interview, Fabien was interrupted several times by people still dropping off relief items. He said the main goal of the concert was to fill a 40-foot container, which was three-quarter filled at the time.

Fabien said items still coming in included 30 mattresses, fabric softener, clothing, water, baby items including pampers, feminine items, general toiletries and food.

He noted the contribution by the performing arts community of T&T, who gave freely of their talent, among them Best Village groups Malick Folk Performers and Wasafoli T&T. He also thanked service providers who gave their services free, including Guardian Media, Johnny Q, Dexter Samai, Premiere Party Rentals and Pro Audio Sound Reinforcement Ltd. The concert also brought together direct telecommunications/broadcasting competitors Flow Trinidad and Digicel which provided the phones and personnel to man the calls for the telethon segment of the concert. Asked how much the telethon received in pledges, Fabien said that was still being tallied.

NLCB also opened its venues across T&T on Sunday to assist the public in making donations via its Wipay You.

The benefit concert brought together the largest gathering of local and regional entertainers, including classical singer Wendy Sheppard, Rupee, Ricardo Dru, Chucky, Freetown Collective, Swappi, 3Canal, calypsonian Ballantyne and a host of others. Halo Foundation founder and CEO Rebecca Welsh also visited T&T specifically for the concert and assisted in fund raising drive.

Asked if One Caribbean Relief will be a one-off event, Fabien said he has been receiving many calls to make it a foundation. For further information on how you can contribute call 707-5661

ROSEAU—Dominica’s police chief says the death toll following the passage of Hurricane Maria has now risen to 27.

Police Chief Daniel Carbon, who made the disclosure during a press conference here early yesterday, said 18 people have also been confirmed missing.

Concerning security, he noted that the police have been kept busy with the latest incident being a prison break that took place late Sunday in which four people escaped. However, he said two were captured shortly afterwards by members of the police force.

Carbon added that another challenge is that of “massive looting” in the capital and other sections of the island.

“I can report that immediately following the passage of Hurricane Maria we have had massive looting. Several business places in the city of Roseau and to a less extent in the town of Portsmouth had looting.”

He said that to date 40 arrests have been made in relation to criminal matters and 86 people who violated the curfew have also been arrested.

But Carbon stressed that the situation is under control, thanks to the help being given by security personal from across the Caribbean.

“As the Prime Minister has stated, the police force was very challenged, both as it relates to search and recovery and dealing with the massive looting, but we now have the situation under control, we have our regional colleagues here and they are helping us in that regard.”

Also speaking was deputy police chief Davidson Valerie, who lamented that young people were involved in looting.

“Many of them were searching broken premises and looting from them – primarily business places. We were able to put the situation under some level of control and quell the problems that were emerging from the looting. Despite our repeated efforts on many occasions, the mobs would move from one location to another…”

Valerie also stressed the importance of observing the curfew.

“We must not catch any resident on the streets, at 4 pm (local time), residents must be home. When the police find anyone outside without a permit – you will be arrested if you do not have a permit. This must be obtained from the chief of police. They must remain inside until eight o’clock in the morning. We as the police, will continue to do our best that during this recovery process, crime is minimised as much as possible.”

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, in a statement, assured the country that the distribution of supplies is one of the top priorities of his administration at this time.

“We are getting additional help from helicopters … once we get the supplies, that will come from the planes to the helicopters—hey will be distributed to the people in masses.”

He also appealed for order.

“What we are seeking to get from the residents is order. Yesterday we did a fantastic job. We are attacking this from land, from air and from sea.

“Every single community, every single family, every single home and street will be reached by the authorities in providing supplies. Our clear instruction is for the equitable, non discriminatory distribution of supplies. We have lots of supplies coming in today and throughout the rest of the week …” he said.

“We thank God for sparing so many of our citizens.” (CMC)

Derek Achong

One of the ten men convicted for the kidnapping and beheading of Dole Chadee’s brother yesterday denied threatening or bribing the State's main witness to recant his evidence against them.

Michael "Rat" Maharaj denied the allegations as he testified before the Court of Appeal.

The convicts are seeking to overturn their convictions based on the evidence of star witness Junior Grandison almost a decade after their trial for the murder of Thackoor Boodram.

Maharaj was called to verify a series of recorded telephone conversations he had with Grandison before the witness signed a statutory declaration in 2011, in which he admitted to fabricating the evidence against Maharaj and his co-accused.

Last week Appellate Judges Alice Yorke-Soo Hon, Rajendra Narine and Prakash Moosai agreed to subpoena Grandison to testify this week.

At the start of yesterday's hearing, Yorke-Soo Hon indicated that the court's staff had attempted to serve Grandison at his two addresses in San Juan and San Fernando but were unsuccessful.

“If I paid him he would have been here since last week,” Maharaj said during his testimony yesterday.

Maharaj also admitted to speaking to Grandison earlier this year and to giving him $100 so that he could set up a mobile data plan on his phone. He also admitted to offering to give him money to ensure his safety after he testified in court.

“He was afraid of the backlash of coming to give evidence. He never asks for money. He was worried for his safety. He just wanted money to keep safe...To move from where he was living,” Maharaj said yesterday.

Maharaj repeatedly maintained that he never asked Grandison to change his testimony.

“I was not guilty of that murder,” Maharaj said.

Attorney Gerald Ramdeen, who prepared Grandison’s statutory declaration, also testified during yesterday's hearing.

The accused men also called upon a former associate of Grandison to verify that it was him in the conversations, secretly recorded by Maharaj in jail. The court requested that the witness remain unidentified in media reports.

The appeal continues today when Maharaj is expected to be cross-examined by State prosecutor Travers Sinanan.

Presenting preliminary submissions last week, Sinanan said that the declaration and recorded conversations should not be accepted by the court without Grandison making himself available to be questioned.

Murder convict Shawn Parris, who is serving a 30-year prison sentence for the murder of Dr Chandra Naraynsingh, is also expected to be called as a witness.

About the Case

Boodram, a pig farmer, was kidnapped from his home in Spring Village on December 20, 1997.

A ransom was demanded by his abductors, but 10 days later his head was found in a whiskey box at the Caroni Cremation Site.

Michael “Rat” Maharaj, Samuel Maharaj, Damiah Ramiah, Bobby Ramiah, Seenath Ramiah, Daniel Gopaul, Richard Huggins, Leslie Huggins, Mark Jaikeran and Junior Phillip were convicted in August 2001.

Their appeals to the Court of Appeal and Privy Council were rejected, but the latter commuted their death sentences to life imprisonment as there had been delays in hearing their cases.In the event that the court agrees to overturn their convictions, Phillip would not benefit as he was implicated in Boodram's murder by another witness, his cousin Haile Selassie Amoroso.

Fire officers were unable to commence their investigations into what would have caused the multi-million dollar fire at JMH Enterprise Ltd on Sunday as small fires were still ignited throughout the four warehouses.

However, in the interim, requests have been made to the operators of nearby businesses at the Trincity Industrial Estate to assist in providing any surveillance footage that may be able to help the police and fire in their investigations.

"We still do not know what caused the fire but we have asked for footage around that time when the fire would have started to see if we see anything suspicious," the owner Christopher James said.

He told the T&T Guardian that fortunately for him and his 45 employees, he was approached by a friend who offered him a warehouse for rental. An offer, he said, he will accept so he can be able to continue operations as there were containers of rice at the port waiting to be cleared.

"We can be able to start up business with some of the trucks that were able to save from the fire. We have several containers on the port to be cleared so we will be back up very soon," James said.

He said throughout the day yesterday fire officers were monitoring the scene.

"I guess they are just letting everything burn out," he said.

On Sunday at about 8.30 pm James received a phone call informing him that a fire had ignited in the garage area of the rice warehouse on the compound. The fire quickly spread to there either warehouses — where sugar, oil and appliances were stored — and fire officers had a difficult time in controlling the blaze because of severe water woes experienced.

A fire hydrant located just outside the compound had no water supply.

Investigations are continuing.

A 20-year-old Chinese national died yesterday after succumbing to injuries sustained during a fire at her San Fernando home last Tuesday.

Ya Yu Chu, a student, who suffered third-degree burns died at the San Fernando General Hospital around 4 am, police said.

Chu lived with her parents and two siblings upstairs her father's business place, Little Busy Corner Chinese Restaurant, at Sutton Street. Her father, Pong Long Chu reported that around 3 am flames were seen coming from an electrical panel box.

The cause of the fire and extent of the damage are still to be ascertained.

Cpl Khan of San Fernando CID is investigating.

Three men charged under the Anti-Gang Act during the 2011 State of the Emergency were successful in their malicious prosecution lawsuits and will benefit from $220,000 in compensation.

Justice Vasheist Kokaram ruled in favour of Onnell Dyer, of Moruga, Marvin Pascall and Reiba Rodriguez, who through their attorney Kevin Ratiram, filed the lawsuits against the State.

The State was also ordered to pay $55,500 to offset the legal costs incurred by the men. They were among hundreds of people charged under the Act and were eventually released after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions discontinued the proceedings against them.

In Dyer's case, he was arrested on August 27, 2011, during a roadblock near the Mon Repos Police Station and charged with being a gang member. However, on September 29, 2011, the State discontinued proceedings against him.

He spent a total of 34 days in custody — 31 of which was spent in remand prison. The statement of the officer who charged Dyer was struck out after he failed to attend court to be cross-examination. He subsequently sent a sick leave through his attorneys. The judge said the State failed to show there was probable and reasonable cause to charge Dyer. In awarding him $40,000 in compensation, the judge said, "The court takes a dim view of the lack of cooperation of PC Brisbane and his evasiveness in attending the court to deal with a very serious matter. In matters where the question of the integrity of the criminal prosecution is in question, the officers responsible must make every effort to ensure that they explain their actions and dispel any doubts as to the honesty of their motives. This defendant failed to do in this case." Ratiram was instructed by Sharmela Rampaul.

In the other matter, Pascall and Rodriguez were arrested on August 26, 2011, in Princes Town and charged being members of a gang. They were also charged with robbery. In the 10-page judgment, Kokaram ruled, "there were material discrepancies in the defendant’s evidence which made the claimants’ version of events of the arrest more plausible and probable that no such offence had in fact occurred."

In awarding $70,000 each to Pascall and Rodriguez in compensation, the judge said, "The claimants were maliciously prosecuted on a fabricated robbery charge because of Mr. Pascall’s past criminal record and Mr Rodriguez’s association with Mr Pascall. They contend that there were kept in a small overcrowded cell which had a hole for a toilet. They spend a total of 25 days in custody."

They were also awarded $20,000 each in exemplary damages. Ratiram was instructed by Charlene Kalloo.

Appalled at the conditions at the Area Hospital, Point Fortin, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh is promising that the operating theatre will be operational soon.

Speaking to reporters at the tour of the under-construction Point Fortin Hospital, Deyalsingh said he made a surprise visit to the old hospital to see if works that he and South West Regional Authority (SWRHA) CEO Gail Miller-Meade had asked to be done were completed, but they were not.

Last April, the Operating Theatre was closed and surgeries were relocated to the San Fernando General Hospital. Deyalsingh said a leak in the roof had caused water to seep into the theatre, resulting in a malfunctioned lighting system. He said new lights were purchased and a concrete overlay was used to cover the roof. They are awaiting the tarring of the surface to prevent further leaks. In 2014, the Maternity Ward was refurbished and the Operating Theatre’s roof was repaired. Ceiling works were done in 2015.

Deyalsingh said, "The issue with the theatre was that no one paid attention to the roof."

Following protests by Barrackpore residents for the reopening of the Rochard Douglas Health Centre, Miller-Meade said repairs to the roof has started and the centre will be officially opened on December 1.

Deyalsingh said the deterioration of the centre was caused by the lack of attention on the building.

"You have to take hard decisions to benefit those same people in the long run. You can’t have people coming to a health centre, looking for health in an environment which is unhealthy," he said.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said yesterday he hoped the decision to award a $400 million dollar contract to contractor Kallco to construct the first segment of the Churchill Roosevelt Highway extension to Manzanilla will motivate other local contractors to bid for State projects.

Speaking at the sod-turning ceremony, at Cumuto, Rowley said Kallco submitted the lowest bid for the project and he believed that the company had the necessary equipment and experience to complete the job on time and with no cost overruns.

Kallco is one of the local contractors which had been criticised by the then People's National Movement as being favoured by the former People's Partnership administration.

He said six contractors had submitted tenders for the contract —four local and two foreign contractors.

Rowley said he hoped the decision to award the contract to a local contractor will motivate local contractors to tender for jobs and would be competitive and give the taxpayers value for their money. The prime minister said the tendering process to award the contract to Kallco was robust and rigid.

He said that this extension of the highway is part of Government’s plan to open up economic space in the North Eastern part of the country and it is expected to generate and foster economic activity.

Rowley said because of the harsh economic times, due to fallen oil and gas prices, the Government had to stretch its hands to do more with less.

He also warned contractors not to expect the same margin of profits as before. Under this Government it is a thing of the past, he said.

The highway extension will be built in three phases. The first phase to construct 34 km of roadway is expected to be completed in 10 months.

RALPH BANWARIE

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh says between 800 to 1,000 jobs will be available in 2019 when the Point Fortin Hospital is completed.

During a tour of the facility being built by Austrian firm VAMED Engineering GmbH &CO KG, Deyalsingh said the steelwork was completed while the project was 40 per cent completed.

While the Ministry has started the process for staffing the Point Fortin and Arima hospitals, Government was yet to make a decision on how the Children’s Hospital in Couva will be integrated into the public health system.

“The process for staffing all the new hospitals, Arima and Point Fortin, has already begun. We are in the process of identifying all the additional staff that will be required: Nurses, doctors, technicians and radiographers, all of those services will be ramped up.

“Once we decide how we are going to integrate Couva, then we will start," he said.

He said the South West Regional Health Authority will also be refurbishing the Point Fortin Area Hospital, which will be used as a tertiary care facility once the new hospital is completed. He said the critical process of getting consultant physicians to come to Point Fortin has already started and the old doctor’s quarters in Mahaica will be refurbished. He welcomed corporate sponsorship in getting that project done.

The new hospital was commissioned through an arrangement with the Austrian government at a cost of $1.5 billion. The sod was turned on May 21, 2015, by the former health minister, Fuad Khan, however, months had passed before any work began. Deyalsingh said that on assuming his ministerial portfolio, he was able to shave off $500 million off the new hospitals without reducing the amount of bed space.

In August, VAMED threatened to pack up and leave T&T, if they were not paid $79 million for work already done. The sum was to cover incremental monies to continue the project. Weeks later, payment was made.

Specs of new hospital

Structure being built to withstand a category 4 hurricane

Structure being built to withstand earthquakes up to 6.0

100-bed capacity

Burn's Unit

Heliport

Increased parking

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday reacted angrily to the negative criticism which his suggestion T&T should open its doors to Dominicans ravaged by Hurricane Maria has brought on social media.

Rowley had last week suggested that citizens who could accommodate Dominican family or friends left homeless after Maria, should open their doors to their Caribbean brethren for a six-month period.

However, the proposal caused an fire storm on social media, with many making xenophobic and racially tainted comments.

Some of the conversation included that Dominicans would commit crime while here and milk the state dry of limited resources while T&T citizens were suffering and needed similar state help.

But this sentiment was countered by a vast majority who said T&T should see no problem with helping its Caricom neighbour.

Several Government ministers also defended the plan, noting that Dominica was in dire need of humanitarian aid due to the devastation caused by Maria.

As he attended a sod turning ceremony for the Churchill Roosevelt Highway Extension to Manzanilla (CRHEM) in Cumuto yesterday, Rowley addressed the issue publicly for the first time.

Recalling that similar anti-Caricom sentiment had caused a fallout between the T&T and Jamaica business sector last year, resulting in him having to travel to Kingston for talks to prevent a possible Jamaica boycott of T&T goods, Rowley said: “Those now who have a lot to say about what I said about Dominica had misconducted themselves and so annoyed our Caricom purchasers of our goods that we were in danger of losing our Caricom market and all I will say to them is just shut your mouth and let Trinidad and Tobago strive.”

He said he was very clear during his statement that only citizens who were willing to accommodate Dominicans should do so, adding he was happy to see that there were many Trinidadians who understood the severity of Dominica’s plight and were willing to lend a hand.

“It is just the nastiness that you know, that exudes from some people that caused what I said to become this embarrassing conversation to our country,” Rowley added.

Meanwhile, Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said he plans to donate his September salary to the people of Dominica.

He also called on all employees from his ministry to donate a small contribution of $10 to assist the relief cause.

Sinanan also announced yesterday that Cabinet had agreed to increase the speed limit from the existing 80 kilometres per hour to 100 kilometres per hour on the nation’s highways.

However, he said the matter will now be taken to Parliament for debate and approval.

Sinanan said he believes the increase could come into effect in the next two weeks once everything goes according to plan.

But he said the new limit will come alongside other traffic laws, including a point system which will ban delinquent motorists after a certain number of traffic violations and the use of cameras on traffic lights to record red light infractions.

Dominica Prime Minister Dr Roosevelt Skerrit yesterday assured Trinidadians “there is nothing to fear” from any of his compatriots who may accept Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s invitation to stay in T&T for six months while they rebuild in Dominica.

Responding to the negative reactions from some quarters in T&T over Rowley’s proposal, Skerrit said Dominicans are “exceptionally peaceful.”

He said he “endorsed Rowley’s offer, especially regarding school children.

He said many schools had been destroyed in the hurricane and “will not reopen any time soon,” adding the offer will be especially good for fifth formers “to continue their studies for CXC.”

Speaking on CNC3 Morning Brew, Skerrit said his grandfather was a Trinidadian.

Saying there will always be those who seek to “politicise anything you say or do,” Skerrit felt that people needed to be more broad-minded.

“Today it is us, it could be somebody else tomorrow, we all live in the hurricane zone.”

Caribbean unity, he said, must be the centre that holds us together.

He said he was especially grateful to Rowley, “the Cabinet and the people of T&T, you guys have been exceptional in your support to Dominica.”

Skerrit said he had given “a commitment” to his countrymen that he will “not pay attention to any negative,” adding his focus was on rebuilding the lives of the people.

The Prime Minister said he has been on the ground alongside his countrymen since the disaster struck.

He said the majority of the island remains without electricity, but they were hoping to restore electricity to the main hospital.

He said many of the roads which were blocked with fallen trees and debris had been cleared and Food and medical supplies had been pouring in from across the Caribbean. He said the bigger problem will be rebuilding.

“When your entire country is devastated like this it will be a very long and difficult journey,” he said.

Skerrit said the names of the dead and missing will be published today “so that people who are trying to find out whether their family or friends are missing will have the names and once they are not on the list we assure that the person is alive.”

Caricom chairman, Grenada Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, who toured the devastation in Dominica yesterday, said having passed through a similar road in 2004 “I know how lonely it was.”

But he said the situation in the region, where many islands had been hit by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, had brought “that element of Caribbean family spirit that we would love to see more of.”

In adversity, he said “we get good messages.”

He too urged that political differences be “put aside at this time.

“Right now is about immediate needs.”

A reformed thief turned security guard was killed by police early yesterday, in circumstances that left his brother questioning whether the police followed proper protocol.

According to police, Gary Rogers, 29, was being taken by Constables Hosein and Hercules to get gas for his vehicle, after it stalled along the Caroni Savannah Road around 1.30 am yesterday.

While in the vehicle, police said they smelled alcohol and told him about it, noting he was about to drive. It was then Rogers is said to have attacked the driver, PC Hercules, and was shot dead by PC Hosein. The attack caused Hercules to lose control of the vehicle, which swerved off the road and crashed. The officers escaped with minor injuries

Speaking to the T&T Guardian outside a chicken farm at Governor Road, Las Lomas, the victim’s brother Glen said police claimed his brother was placed in the police vehicle without handcuffs and he stabbed an officer, leading to him being shot six times.

“Nobody not arresting anybody without handcuffs. If he in the back of the Xtrail you not putting him just so. This is a case of a set up thing. They will not investigate that because he have a record,” Rogers said.

Rogers said his brother, who was released from prison two years ago after serving larceny charges, was the second sibling shot dead. Their other brother, prison officer Andy Rogers, was shot to death in Malabar in 2013.

But he said Gary was now changing his life and was working at the chicken farm and as a security guard at a Kelly Village casino. He was also rearing ducks to begin his own farming career.

His former bosses at the chicken farm described him as a diligent worker who was always punctual and respectful.

One woman said when Rogers first started he would work the entire day but then changed to shifts when he got the security job.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Police Social and Welfare Association president, Insp Michael Seales, said Rogers was not under arrest so there was no need for him to be handcuffed.

He said the officers did not break any protocol while transporting him as they were being “good Samaritans.”

Two of ten freight containers with relief supplies, which were expected to be shipped today from Carenage to Dominica, had to be offloaded and redirected to the Port of Port-of-Spain for clearance on orders by the T&T Coast Guard yesterday.

This will result in relief items, such as generators, tarpaulins, bottled water, mattresses, blankets, toiletries and canned foods, reaching those most in need being delayed by several days.

Yesterday, Living Waters Community volunteer Dayne Harford, one of several people who gave their time and effort in spearheading the loading of the ten 20-foot long containers, expressed outraged at the incident.

Harford said two containers were loaded at Specialist Chemicals in San Juan yesterday and were “trucked” down to Capital Signal jetty in Carenage, where they were placed on a marine vessel destined for ravaged Dominica when the T&T Coast Guard intervened and gave the instructions for it to be moved to the port for checks and clearance.

“We had another two containers on its way to Carenage also that we had to stop and redirect to the port. We were going to load five containers today, with the remaining five tomorrow and sail on Wednesday evening,” Harford said.

“Now with all this drama we have to take the two containers off the vessel and get the truckers to come back down here to take the containers to the port. Then the boat has to sail up to the Port Authority and then onload again.

“This is too much. It is ridiculous the state our country is in. We are offering to help these people but everything in a mess and disorganised. I am really furious. I am really upset. All these things could have been avoided.”

With all the confusion at the port, Harford said the relief supplies, which were donated by the public, “will no doubt take days to reach Dominicans” who are starving and looting and in a state of despair.

“There was no reason for this. The Coast Guard needs to understand that Dominicans are in a desperate situation right now. It’s urgent that these items get to them as soon as possible,” he said.

“This is just bureaucratic red tape. There is absolutely no reason for us to go to the port except we would be charged a fee for use of their cranes among other things.”

The containers, which will bear the sign “From Trinidad to Dominica with Love,” were filled with donations sent through various organisations, including Living Waters, Blue Waters and St Finbar’s RC Church.

Harford said they had already organised with the Customs and Excise Division to check the containers to ensure that nothing illegal had been placed in them.

Contacted yesterday, T&T Coast Guard public relations officer Lieutenant Sherron Manswell said he was unaware of the incident.

“I don’t have any information on this at all,” Manswell said.

Manswell asked that the T&T Guardian call him back for an update.

However, when we made an attempt to reach him, his cellphone went straight to voicemail.

Two police officers, including a female officer, were accidentally shot yesterday while one of the officers was cleaning his service pistol.

According to reports, Constable Bernard, who is attached to the San Juan Police Station, was cleaning his weapon around 9 am when the gun fired, hitting his colleague, Constable Sealey, in her abdomen. Police said Bernard was grazed on the hand.

Both officers were taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, where Sealey underwent emergency surgery. Up to yesterday evening officers could not give an update on her.

Last year, Constable Prakash Deosaran was charged with manslaughter after his gun accidentally fired, killing colleague PC Govindra Ramroop. Deosaran is currently on $100,000 bail as the matter is still before a Point Fortin magistrate. That incident took place in November 2015 at the Guapo Police Station.

Two police officers attached to specialised units in the Port-of-Spain Division were denied bail and remanded in custody to re-appear in court today, when the appeared in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court on drug and weapons charges.

Constables Stephen Johnson and Toola Jack, of the Inter Agency Task Force and Firearm Interdiction Unit, appeared before Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John, who initially asked arresting officers why the men were not taken to the Siparia court to deal with the substantive matters before being transferred to her jurisdiction for those they had there.

An upset sounding Forde-John said there was no need to take the men to Port-of-Spain only for the matter to be transferred to Siparia. She said she was not granting bail in the matters outside her jurisdiction and dealt with Johnson’s individual charge separately.

Johnson, who was represented by Ian Brooks, was ordered to report to the Besson Street Police Station every Wednesday and Saturday after he was granted bail in a separate matter in Forde-John’s jurisdiction. That offence is alleged to have taken place one day after the duo were arrested in South Oropouche at Johnson’s Sandy Trace, Upper St Barb’s home. It is alleged that he had 10 rounds of ammunition at his home. He was granted $45,000 bail with a cash alternative of $20,000.

The officers are jointly charged with trafficking 54.3 kilogrammes of marijuana with an estimated street value of $733,000. The drugs were allegedly found in four crocus bags in a police vehicle with the two officers and another man. Three illegal guns and an undisclosed amount of ammunition were also found in the car. The men are accused of having the guns and drugs at Dow Village, South Oropouche, on September 19.

Attorneys Brooks and Darryl Worrell did not request that their clients be kept separate from other inmates while on remand, as has been the case with police officers in the past. The officers were the last to be taken to court just after lunch and had the largest support in the courtroom, with both colleagues and relatives filling it. At the end of the sitting, one of Johnson’s colleagues shook his hand as he left the courtroom, although prisoners interacting with those in the public gallery is forbidden.

“A blatant lie!”

That’s how Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan has described last Wednesday’s testimony by Port Authority of T&T CEO Charmaine Lewis before the Joint Select Committee (JSC) into the sea bridge.

Outraged by Lewis’ inaccurate statement, Sinanan sent JSC chairman Stephen Creese a letter yesterday “debunking” her claims and putting the facts on the table.

In giving evidence, Lewis had raised concerns over Sinanan’s instruction to now suspended T&T Inter-Island Transportation Company Ltd CEO Leon Grant to inspect the “barge”—the Trinity Transporter—even before the port’s evaluation process for a cargo vessel began.

Lewis told the JSC Sinanan had told Grant he thought the barge would be “suitable” and the owner wanted US$12,000 a day but that he (Grant) should beat them down to US$8,000.

“That conversation took place before the evaluation and the formal submission of the barge to the Port,” Lewis told the JSC.

In defending his name yesterday, however, Sinanan said he felt compelled to “debunk the nonsense Lewis spoke” about.

“Charmaine Lewis just made a fool of herself by going there, in my opinion, and to say a whole set of things that were not true,” Sinanan said in a telephone interview.

He said his instruction to Grant was “to look at everything that was available in our waters, which included the Coast Guard vessels, because there was no board in place at the time since it was an emergency. I never said to go and look at the barge.”

He said after viewing several vessels, the port told the ministry the Atlantic Provider and Trinity Transporter were the most suitable vessels.

“I can’t tell them it suitable because I don’t know anything about barges or cargo vessels. So all that is a blatant lie.”

Sinanan said Lewis’ testimony “was so conniving it gives the impression that I told them to look at the barge and Atlantic Provider alone. They went that day with a purpose. They couldn’t find anything on the minister and couldn’t do anything. I have no doubt that somewhere along there…there was some collusion with some members of that JSC to put something there. And if there was a board in place at the time of the contract, what place the minister has?”

He also admitted he has sceptical about the port’s management.

Sinanan noted that PATT vice chairman Adrian Beharry, in his testimony to the JSC, admitted to negotiating for the barge.

Also contacted yesterday, David Brash, who was awarded a three-month contract by the port for the Trinity Transporter, denied being a friend of Sinanan’s or working in collusion with him.

“I met (Sinanan) once and that was after we made the offer to the port. I don’t know him personally,” Brash said, adding two rates were offered to the port board.

“If you rent the barge for a day or up to seven days it is US$12,000 a day. If you rent it beyond that its daily rate is US$ 8,500. Our offer was in writing. All that was negotiated was a deduction of US$500 off the US$8,500, which was done by Beharry.”

The barge, which Brash said was underutilised, worked for 85 days. He said Lewis was”misinformed” and described her testimony “erroneous,” adding the allegations had painted a bad picture for his organisation and vessel.

Asked if he would go before the JSC to clear the air and defend his company, Brash said he saw no reason to do so since they did not do anything wrong.

“If they say we in some sort of corruption or collusion we would defend that. I would certainly send my lawyer a note. We will take it from that point of view.”

Brash said the day the barge pulled into Port-of-Spain was the first time he met Grant.

Sixty-year-old Jasodra Jagmohan who was initially charged with the murder of her husband yesterday pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Wearing a sling on her right arm, a frail Jagmohan has been attending the San Fernando High Court on a stretcher which could be transformed into a wheelchair since she was arraigned in July.

However, the State, represented by Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj SC, who received a fiat to prosecute, did not open the case to the jury.

When the matter came up again before Justice Althea Alexis-Windsor in the Fourth Assizes yesterday, the charge was read again to Jagmohan, who, after being assisted by a policewoman to stand, said, in a barely audible tone, “not guilty to murder, guilty to manslaughter.” After instructing the jury to return a not guilty verdict to murder and a guilty verdict to manslaughter, the judge told the jury the attorneys had been “working feverishly” behind the scenes on this matter.

The Penal woman is accused of killing her husband Jagindranan Jagmohan, 57, also known as Rex, on a date unknown between June 22, 2007, and June 26, 2007, at Clarke Road, Penal.

An autopsy revealed her husband was strangled. The judge thanked the jury for their service before discharging them. The matter was adjourned to Friday when the judge is hoping to receive certain reports, including the bio-social report.

It is also expected that on that day defence attorney Prakash Ramadhar and Michael Rooplal will make a plea in mitigation.

Acting CEO of the Port Authority Charmaine Lewis is reportedly considering her legal options following claims by Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan that she told a “blatant lie” to Parliament’s Joint Select Committee (JSC) probing the seabridge.

Sinanam has written to chairman of that JSC, Stephen Creese, about Lewis’ testimony in relation to his involvement in procurement of the Trinity Transporter, the barge used on the seabridge to transport cargo after the Galicia left.

A source close to Lewis said she stands by her statements.

Yesterday former minister Devant Maharaj emailed a letter to Creese expressing concern that a public contract officer who gave evidence to the JSC is being “vilified, ridiculed and put in public odium.” Maharaj said testimony given by persons appearing before the JSC is supposed to be privileged and protected and if there was a dispute over Lewis’ testimony, “the politician could have requested to be recalled to the JSC to refute her claims.”

He further stated that if the JSC fails to defend the public officer, it could affect its future work as public officials might be hesitant and reluctant to appear and offer “honest testimony.”

Secretary to the committee Angelique Messiah has acknowledged receipt of Maharaj’s email which she said had been forwarded to the chairman for his attention.

A member of the JSC told the T&T Guardian once Parliament reconvenes and the committee meets, the chairman will be “duty bound” to bring to the attention of members the letter sent to him by Sinanan.

Two police officers who were arrested and charged with transporting illegal guns, drugs and ammunition in a police vehicle were granted bail in the sum of $1 million yesterday after a night behind bars.

Stephen Johnson, 28, who was last attached to the Firearm Interdiction Unit and Toola Jack, 25, who was last attached to the Inter-Agency Task Force, re-appeared in the Siparia Magistrates Court yesterday.

They had initially appeared before a Port-of-Spain Magistrate on Tuesday and remanded in custody. Their charges were transferred to Siparia Court.

The police officers, who were brought to court in a police vehicle, were placed with other inmates in the prisoner's dock inside the First Court as they waited for their matters to call. Senior Magistrate Margaret Alert re-read the charges which alleged that on September 19 the had in their possession 54.3 kilogrammes of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, three pistols and a quantity of ammunition in their possession. The marijuana carries an estimated street value of $733,000. The exhibits were submitted before the court.

Johnson's attorney Ian Brooks, stood in for Jack's attorney Darryl Worrell, who was unable to attend court, in making an application for bail for both accused told the magistrate that Jack had five years service while Johnson has four years police service.

Both officers, he said, had no previous convictions or pending matters.

Prosecutor Sgt Starr Jacob did not object to bail but asked for certain conditions to be attached.

Brooks did not object to the prosecutor's request but informed the magistrate that Johnson had another charge of possession of ammunition in the Port-of-Spain district and as part of his bail conditions he had to report twice to the Besson Street Police Station.

Following Johnson's arrest, the police searched his home and allegedly found ten rounds of ammunition.

When he appeared in court on Tuesday, he was granted bail in the sum of $45,000 and a cash alternative of $20,000, and ordered to report to the police station twice weekly.

As a result, Magistrate Alert did not order any further reporting conditions for Johnson. However, she prohibited him from making an application for a T&T passport until the completion of the matter.

The magistrate ordered Jack to surrender his passport and report to the Belmont Police Station twice weekly.

The police officers will have to return to court on October 25.

Derek Achong

Almost seven years after businessman Ricardo "Smokey" McKenzie died, his widow testified in court in her $20 m lawsuit against Brian Lara Cancer Treatment Centre over the medical institution's alleged role in his death.

Lisa McKenzie took the witness stand before Justice Mira Dean-Armorer in the Port-of-Spain High Court for the continuation of her medical negligence lawsuit against the Centre, where her husband underwent radiation treatment in 2009.

McKenzie was questioned by Centre's attorneys over her claim of US$567,000 spent on his medical care in the United States before his death and her claim of almost $16 m representing her husband's earnings.

The Centre's attorney Neil Bisnath went through each bill and invoice attached to her claim and pointed out that one receipt was replicated five times in her court documents.

McKenzie claimed that the duplicates were compiled by error but the total figure made in the lawsuit was correct.

Bisnath also questioned the fact that none of the receipts presented by McKenzie showed that she paid for the medical treatment as they all stated that the medical bills were paid by her health insurance policy with her former employer RBC and through another policy held by her husband.

McKenzie claimed that total medical expenses were not covered by the insurance policies and she had to borrow the rest from RBC by taking a second mortgage on her home. She admitted that she failed to attach the mortgage agreement to her court documents but denied that her claim was exaggerated.

McKenzie was also questioned about her claim over her loss of earnings caused by her husband's death at age 55. She admitted that after his death, she took over co-ownership of Smokey and Bunty Bar in St James and received his share of the profits.

She said that the only time the establishment was closed for business was in May 2015 when it was damaged by a fire and took six months to relocate.

Under cross-examination, McKenzie admitted that according to her expert witness Dr Roberto Heros, who testified on Tuesday, her husband had a life expectancy of between 16-18 months due to the extent of his illness. Her husband lived almost 17 months from the time he was first diagnosed, to when he died in December 2010.

The trial today when another of McKenzie's foreign medical experts is expected to testify from the US via video conferencing.

About the case

Ricardo "Smokey" McKenzie, a brain cancer patient, received external beam radiation therapy at the Brian Lara Cancer Treatment Centre for six weeks in 2009. In June 2010, McKenzie, the co-owner of Smokey and Bunty bar in St James, underwent an operation for swelling in his brain.

He was then taken to the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida, for further treatment before he eventually died, later that year.

In her lawsuit filed several months after his death, his widow Lisa is claiming that the Centre was negligent for over-radiation of McKenzie due to the miscalibration of its Linac accelerator during the period he was treated.

She also contended that the centre failed to take reasonable steps to notify McKenzie or his family that there were a miscalibration and a possibility that an overdose of radiation may have occurred.